My Montblancs story, what’s yours?

[Irelaand]

Hello everyone! It is my first time posting in this topic.
 

What caused me to post here is I had been thinking to myself if my Montblancs have their special stories, do other people’s have stories too? As people who are not into pens just see them as pens I think many people have stories that go along with them that make their pens special so what’s yours? 
 

I’ll start off with the story of my two Montblancs a 164 and a 22.

 

My first Montblanc was a black 164 with gold accents. The way I came to find this pen was entirely luck. One was at school one day digging through a box of old discarded pens, as I still had quite an interest in them and I needed one to complete my work and I saw something that caught my eye, the signature white snow cap on the pen. I grabbed the pen immediately and brought it back to my desk filled with joy that I had made such a discovery but I thought to myself there was no way it was possibly real. The pen itself was in good condition with a slight scuff on the snow cap that I was able to clean off  along with unfortunately quite a large crack that runs up the upper section behind the clip. Perhaps from too much force being pressed down on it? As it is chipped under where the  clip touches down on the body. The pen had long since dried out unfortunately but I ordered ink cartridges right away and used it for quite a while with some issues of blockage and gumming up from an unknown cause remedied by purchasing cartridges from a boutique near me. One thing that I had always assumed was the pen was fake, Allowing me to take the pen on all my adventures but it had always nagged me to see if this pen was indeed real or not leading me to find here The Fountain Pen Network. Where as I looked more and more my pen started to line up with descriptions on what to look for in authentic pens such as serial numbers (starting in the 1990s) font sizes and styles, shining a flashlight in the pen to see if it glows red and finally the last piece of information to help me prove the pen was real a comment from Addertooth stating that real pens must have the front gold piece (were the ink comes out) must screw off… and I was overjoyed to see that it did. My pen was real! Ive treasured that pen ever since. 
 

If anyone would like to help me verify when this pen is from I’m more than happy to post photos! I believe it’s 1990s as it says “Germany” next to the serial number and doesn’t have “pix” or any writing under the clip which is possible for pens made in the early to mid 90s 

 

The second story is about my 1963 Montblanc 22 Although this one doesn’t have as much of a story it’s still special as it is my first Montblanc Fountain pen! And it is truly a joy to write with. It has an oblique medium nib that when in the sweet spot is smooth like butter the 14K gold 60s nibs are from my own and others experience extremely nice at a cheaper price! I purchased it on eBay from Berlin-collectibles. (Non sponsored) but I do highly recommend him as he has a large collection of pens for sale along with a good experience as a buyer (it also came with goodies!) such as a little plastic pen box, advertising papers from the time and a hand written note written with the pen!

(Ignore the wallet and pen case those were separate purchases)  Definitely one of my favourite birthday presents so far! 

 

Here is a quick writing test with the two (I got the year wrong in writing for the 22) 

Thank you all for reading my stories and please share your own if you have one! 

[Penguincollector]

I only have one MontBlanc, but I treasure it and the experience I had in the store as one of the best new pen buying experiences I’ve ever had. It was my high school graduation gift; I got to go to the jewelry store with my dad, and the salesman in charge of the pen section (so many pens there I wanted lived there- that Cartier Pasha pen was a delight to look at) first brought out three pens,  the 144, 146, and 149. I chose the black 144- I had a hard time choosing the nib, I write small, so was leaning towards the finer end, but the Broad felt so smooth, and the salesman liked broad nibs, so I let myself be convinced to take the broad one home. I chose blue black cartridges for it as well.  Recently, I had it ground into an italic broad and it hasn’t left my desk since.  I will eventually get another MB ( hopefully a blue one), but I don’t know if the experience will live up to that one. 

[Irelaand]

1 hour ago, Penguincollector said:

I only have one MontBlanc, but I treasure it and the experience I had in the store as one of the best new pen buying experiences I’ve ever had. It was my high school graduation gift; I got to go to the jewelry store with my dad, and the salesman in charge of the pen section (so many pens there I wanted lived there- that Cartier Pasha pen was a delight to look at) first brought out three pens,  the 144, 146, and 149. I chose the black 144- I had a hard time choosing the nib, I write small, so was leaning towards the finer end, but the Broad felt so smooth, and the salesman liked broad nibs, so I let myself be convinced to take the broad one home. I chose blue black cartridges for it as well.  Recently, I had it ground into an italic broad and it hasn’t left my desk since.  I will eventually get another MB ( hopefully a blue one), but I don’t know if the experience will live up to that one. 

Oh wow that’s interesting! I haven’t purchased a new pen before maybe a 146 will be my first! The 144s are beautiful though. Haha I feel you picking nibs is definitely hard! I feel like mediums work best for my writing but I just try a broad one day. Oooo yes those blue ones are very pretty! And never can go wrong with getting more Montblancs

 

[Penguincollector]

4 hours ago, Irelaand said:

Haha I feel you picking nibs is definitely hard! I feel like mediums work best for my writing but I just try a broad one day.

  For real, I go through it every time I buy a pen. I love the feel of bigger nibs, but in order to write with them I need to be very careful. My chicken scratch is better suited to the fine side of the spectrum. Broads, especially those with a stubbish look, feel really nice, I recommend at least trying one out. I definitely recommend the in store experience for MontBlanc, especially if the store near you is one that’s been around for awhile and takes the time to really help you find your pen. 

[Irelaand]

1 hour ago, Penguincollector said:

  For real, I go through it every time I buy a pen. I love the feel of bigger nibs, but in order to write with them I need to be very careful. My chicken scratch is better suited to the fine side of the spectrum. Broads, especially those with a stubbish look, feel really nice, I recommend at least trying one out. I definitely recommend the in store experience for MontBlanc, especially if the store near you is one that’s been around for awhile and takes the time to really help you find your pen. 

Yea I might go in there one day! I don’t want to feel like I’m wasting their time tho I really love the 146 so I think ive gotta try one out soon not sure if I’ll get a new one maybe a second had one but I’ll definitely drop in to one soon! 

[Boston Brian]

My wife of 40 years and I went to London to celebrate our engagement in 1989, and she bought me at MontBlanc 146 as a special gift, it was purchased in Harrods pen department, with a broad nib.

It is my most treasured pen and has used almost everyday for 44 years!  Incidentally, it cost my darling over three weeks wages paying for that special pen.

[Irelaand]

10 hours ago, Boston Brian said:

My wife of 40 years and I went to London to celebrate our engagement in 1989, and she bought me at MontBlanc 146 as a special gift, it was purchased in Harrods pen department, with a broad nib.

It is my most treasured pen and has used almost everyday for 44 years!  Incidentally, it cost my darling over three weeks wages paying for that special pen.

Aww thats a lovely story, and what an amazing gift! How is the broad nib for writing? I'm looking into getting a 146 but I'm not sure on the nib I'm thinking either a Medium or a broad nib. I'm sure that pen will be used for many more years as they can certainly handle it! Haha yea well I think that was definitely worth it if its still going strong 44 years later! 

[markcotter]

My first MB was a 146 that I purchased as a gift to myself soon after purchasing my first iMac. I used to buy a new fp when I updated my technology before collecting pens got a bit out of hand. My second was a 149 that I bought as a 40th birthday present to myself - as my family had forgotten to even send cards for the special day! 

 

Two other pens were added to the MB collection over the years - the Heritage 1912 which has remained inked continuously in the 10 years since I bought it and the Brahms donation pen - honestly can’t remember the reason for buying it. 

 

I would love to be able to find, and afford, the Heritage 1914 Goliath, 

[Irelaand]

2 minutes ago, markcotter said:

My first MB was a 146 that I purchased as a gift to myself soon after purchasing my first iMac. I used to buy a new fp when I updated my technology before collecting pens got a bit out of hand. My second was a 149 that I bought as a 40th birthday present to myself - as my family had forgotten to even send cards for the special day! 

 

Two other pens were added to the MB collection over the years - the Heritage 1912 which has remained inked continuously in the 10 years since I bought it and the Brahms donation pen - honestly can’t remember the reason for buying it. 

 

I would love to be able to find, and afford, the Heritage 1914 Goliath, 

Thats a fun tradition! Im not sure I could afford to keep that tradition up haha,

 

Out of the 146 and the 149 what one do you prefer more? I've heard good reviews of both! 

 

oooo thats a very interesting pen what size nib does it have; it must be a joy to write with no? If you have any photo of any of your pens I would love to see them!

 

oh yea definitely that pen is beautiful, but would be quite the chunk of change! 

[ZeroDukE]

 

 

Now that you mention Montblanc no.22… I was never interested in Montblanc, possibly because I didn't find its design attractive. However, a few years ago a friend of mine had a no.22 I liked a lot, so I wanted to get one. But I couldn't find it, although I got a no.12. And that was very interesting for me. I liked it from the first moment and was surprised by how excellent it wrote. So it led me to do some research on the Montblanc models of the time and I decided to get the no.14, something I achieved in a short time. Somehow the no.22 made me interested in the brand and at some point, overcoming prejudices about its design, I decided to buy a no.149, which is truly a pleasure to write with. Then, as I continued researching the brand, I found a design that I really liked: the Boheme. But when I had one in my hand it seemed to be extremely short. I was told there were two more models that were larger, so I started the search to get one of those and finally got the biggest one (jumbo?), which has become my favourite MB ever since. All this happened because of my friend’s number 22.

[Irelaand]

2 hours ago, ZeroDukE said:

 

 

Now that you mention Montblanc no.22… I was never interested in Montblanc, possibly because I didn't find its design attractive. However, a few years ago a friend of mine had a no.22 I liked a lot, so I wanted to get one. But I couldn't find it, although I got a no.12. And that was very interesting for me. I liked it from the first moment and was surprised by how excellent it wrote. So it led me to do some research on the Montblanc models of the time and I decided to get the no.14, something I achieved in a short time. Somehow the no.22 made me interested in the brand and at some point, overcoming prejudices about its design, I decided to buy a no.149, which is truly a pleasure to write with. Then, as I continued researching the brand, I found a design that I really liked: the Boheme. But when I had one in my hand it seemed to be extremely short. I was told there were two more models that were larger, so I started the search to get one of those and finally got the biggest one (jumbo?), which has become my favourite MB ever since. All this happened because of my friend’s number 22.

Oooo yes the 22 is definitely an interesting pen! In my opinion I definitely like the 146 or 149 but I figured why not give Montblanc a test run first and see how I like them, they were a good bit cheaper and I heard that the pens had glowing reviews and I definitely conquer with that! I really love the 12 and 14 too for that amber coloured ink window but I just wasn’t a fan of the cap band. From what you noticed was there much diffrence between the 14k gold on the 22 vs the 18k on the 12/14? As that is one thing that interests me. Oooo yes the Boheme is definitely a very interesting style! Especially with that big Montblanc emblem is definitely a statement! I think it’s very pretty too! What size nib do you have on it? 

[ZeroDukE]

40 minutes ago, Irelaand said:

I just wasn’t a fan of the cap band

 

Me neither, it's a little strange to say at least.

 

 

40 minutes ago, Irelaand said:

What size nib do you have on it? 

 

The big Boheme came with the 18K Gold  monotone nib.  What's interesting is that the nib is quite the same as the one in the 146.  See picture.  The fountain pen is nearly as long as a 146 with the barrel girth of a 149.

 

[Irelaand]

1 hour ago, ZeroDukE said:

 

Me neither, it's a little strange to say at least.

Yea it’s interesting I’m not sure what they were going for, I think the double rings on the 22 just looked a little better so that’s overall what I thought was worth it. 
 

1 hour ago, ZeroDukE said:

 

The big Boheme came with the 18K Gold  monotone nib.  What's interesting is that the nib is quite the same as the one in the 146.  See picture.  The fountain pen is nearly as long as a 146 with the barrel girth of a 149.

 Oh hmmmm that’s very interesting, maybe they’re the same number 9 size nib? I think the 146 has a number 6 nib so it’s very interesting how different one shapes can also be so similar at the same time.  

[ZeroDukE]

11 hours ago, Irelaand said:

Yea it’s interesting I’m not sure what they were going for, I think the double rings on the 22 just looked a little better so that’s overall what I thought was worth it. 

 

I've put it aside a bit but I think I'll have to start looking for a no.22 again... it's a pending task.

[Irelaand]

27 minutes ago, ZeroDukE said:

 

I've put it aside a bit but I think I'll have to start looking for a no.22 again... it's a pending task.

Ah yea they're still a good bit of money, I'm considering maybe even buying a spare nib from a 12 I wonder if they're interchangeable? 

[ZeroDukE]

2 hours ago, Irelaand said:

I'm considering maybe even buying a spare nib from a 12 I wonder if they're interchangeable? 

 

I don't know.  When I get a no.22 I'll disassembly it and compare.  I'll let you know about that.

[Irelaand]

4 minutes ago, ZeroDukE said:

 

I don't know.  When I get a no.22 I'll disassembly it and compare.  I'll let you know about that.

Great, thank you!

 

[ak47]

On 10/4/2023 at 12:25 AM, ZeroDukE said:

 

Me neither, it's a little strange to say at least.

 

 

 

The big Boheme came with the 18K Gold  monotone nib.  What's interesting is that the nib is quite the same as the one in the 146.  See picture.  The fountain pen is nearly as long as a 146 with the barrel girth of a 149.

 

Useful information. Thanks

[dftr]

Great stories here.  I don't have anything exciting; I had no interest in Montblanc till I started seeing some of the wonderful posts in the Montblanc Flex Calligraphy thread on this forum.  That was what attracted me to the brand and the pen.  Now I use that flex pen but I'm much more into their Curved nib which was my second purchase and almost always filled w/ ink.

[chromantic]

I've been mainly a Pelikan guy, though more recently I discovered Aurora Optimas. I looked at MBs on occasion but found the Maisterstucke's styling uninspiring and even used ones (just to try/have one) were on the pricey side so I never bit.

 

A few years back, I wrote my Dad asking if he used FPs and, if he did, would he like A Stipula Euretria (it was a litlle large for my taste). He was always rather terse and he replied, tersely, "I have a Montblanc." In January, he fell and was in hospital; sensing the end was imminent, my sister flew over from England and I took the Amtrak back.

 

While there, my sister showed me the MB and, much to my surprise, rather than a large pen I'd assumed he would have (he was over six feet), it was a slim c/c (144?). Long story short, he passed away the day I got home and my sister just sent the pen. I flushed it, filled a cart with 1864 and have used it the last two nights at work.

 

Very nice writer, I must say, very smooth, I'd say F (Euro F), the slip cap has a nice feel snapping into place. Looks still uninspiring, though, since I now own one, I'll use "understated" instead. May use it as an EDC for a while, be a nice reminder of him.